May 19, 2016

Board Launches 2016 Almanac

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has launched its sixth annual Texas Public Higher Education Almanac "as part of the agency’s core function to promote transparency and accountability among Texas public institutions of higher education," according to the official announcement.

The document will be shared with lawmakers as they prepare for the next Regular Session. It's quite comprehensive and well-presented, with plenty of institutional and state comparisons.

The 2016 Almanac provides higher education facts and performance data that allow users to compare Texas public higher education institutions. The data provide a snapshot of Texas’ success in achieving the state’s 2000-2015 higher education plan, Closing the Gaps by 2015. The Almanac draws from data found in the agency’s accountability system -- long recognized as a “best practice” national model for higher education performance data, the statement continues.

“The Almanac was originated by the Coordinating Board to more effectively communicate Texas higher education data,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund Paredes. “This data includes the many accomplishments achieved under Closing the Gaps. Now we have entered a new era under 60x30TX, the state’s new strategic plan that promotes innovative, student-centered goals of completion of high-quality credentials, identifiable marketable skills, and the ability to move students into the workforce without crushing loan debt. We won’t reach our goals by doing business as usual.”